The Aerospace Industries Association of Canada on November 8 announced the election of Rich Foster, Chief Executive and Vice President, L3Harris Technologies Canada as Chair of its Board of Directors.
Foster succeeds Lee Obst, Country Lead, Canada, Customer & Account Management, at Collins Aerospace. Amandeep Kaler, Chief Executive Officer at Avcorp Industries is the new Vice-Chair.
“Rich and Amandeep are both long-time board members, industry leaders and advocates,” said Mike Mueller, President and CEO of AIAC. “They are tremendous assets to our association and we’re very pleased to welcome them as Chair and Vice-Chair. A strong national aerospace industry has arguably never been more important. Our industry, in particular, has the ability to contribute to our nation’s economic recovery from coast to coast to coast.
“Partnership with government is critical to ensure we chart a globally competitive plan, spanning the civil, defence and space sectors, based on Canada’s strengths and advantages in order to drive economic recovery and innovation here at home,” continued Mueller. “On behalf of the staff at AIAC, we look forward to working with Rich, Amandeep, and our new board members, to press this message to Government.”
AIAC acknowledged the service and contributions of Obst as outgoing chair, pointing to his leadership and support through the most difficult days of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“I am honoured to succeed Lee, whose leadership of the board came during extraordinary times,” said Foster. “Despite the challenges, Canada’s aerospace industry saw some significant gains in terms of the strategic recognition of our industry by the federal government in Budget 2021. Aerospace has an opportunity to contribute to Canada’s economic recovery, but we require a strategy to ensure the sector can remain globally competitive.”
